Family want answers after death in cell

FAMILY of an Alexandra man are demanding answers following his death while in police custody.

Webster Matsetela, 34, was allegedly “assaulted and died in police custody” at the Norwood, Joburg, police station following his arrest on December 26, after a scuffle between him and a group of men on the street where they were drinking.

His family said they were told he had hanged himself in his cell. But they claimed that, on identifying his body, they found his face swollen and some of his teeth missing.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate confirmed that it had received a report from the police and that investigations were under way.

Webster’s niece, Nthabiseng Matsetela, said: “The people who were at the scene said the men started the scuffle and pointed a gun at Webster, who went to open a case against them at the Sandringham police station.

“However, when the police came to arrest them, they told the police it was Webster who pointed a gun at them,” she said.

Nthabiseng said the police did not find a gun on Webster and did not search his house for one.

On the same day, Webster was transferred from the Sandringham to the Norwood police station.

On December 27, the family went to Norwood after hearing rumours that Matsetela was dead.

“We asked for the date of his appearance in court. The police told us he was appearing on Monday, but never mentioned his death.

“When we asked about the rumour, the police just said, ‘Oh that one who hanged himself’.

“If we had never asked, they were not going to tell us. They were going to bury him themselves,” said Nthabiseng.